Device for cleaning and polishing teeth



Nov. 24, 1931.

N. c. LEONARD DEVICE FOR CJLEANING AND POLISHING TEETH lF'iled Dec. 27, 1928 WI WIA Patented Nov. 24, 1931 NORRIS G. LEONARD, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND DEVICE FOR CLEANING AND'POLISEHNG TEETH Application filed December 27, 1928. Serial No. 328,659.

This invention relates to dentistry, and more particularly to a novel instrument for use in cleaning and polishing the teeth. This instrument may be regarded as supplemen- 5 tary to the use of ordinary tooth brushes and tooth paste, and is to be supplied in a sterile packages, as a convenient and inexpensive toilet accessary, to be used for both prophylactic and aesthetic purposes.

It might be mentioned that it is very difficult, with the usual forms of bristle tooth brushes, and the ordinary tooth paste, to prevent the formation of stains on certain areas of the teeth that the bristles do not readilyreach; and that these stains and bacterial plaques, particularly near the gum margins, and around the curves at the necks, of teeth, are of very great importance from both the aesthetic and prophylactic standpoints; and these stains and plaques should be removed thoroughly and frequently.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel instrument, preferably formed at least at one end, of fibrous material, such as wood, and this end having a substantially bell-shaped mouth, the wall of which will function as brush bristles to conform to the contour of the tooth.

A further object is to furnish a device of this character, in i which the bell-shaped mouth may be filled with a suitable abrasive agent to facilitate the polishing, as well as the cleaning of the teeth.

My invention contemplates the use of such instruments by both the profession and the laiety; and it may be made in suitable lengths to incorporate its handle with its softened bristle-like fibre end, or of shorter length to facilitate attachment to a dental engine handiece.

of a tooth,

ly suitable for the laiety, but capable of use by the dentist, either withor without the charge of abrasive-material to be employed at the chairin areas that cannot be easily-iii;

reached with the rotary form. y

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of theprofessionalforms, without the abrasive material.

'Fig.-4.- is a vertical sectional view of the f:

same, supplied with abrasive material.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the simplest form for professional use.

- Fig. 6 is end view of the last mentioned 7 form. I 4 V I I p In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, 1i designates a stick or handle formed of any suitable fibrous material, such as rattan or palm wood. 1 One end of the stick is macerated so as to provide L- at its end, short softened bristle-like fibres, and to provide for this, the end of the stick is bored, as shown at 2, and the outer endof the-bore is flared to provide a bell-shaped mouth 8. The exteriorof the-mouth is "also flared as at 4, and the end surface of the mouth is scalloped or grooved across the axis of the stick, as at 5 to conform to the surface When such device is furnished for the laiety, the cavity in the operating end is filled with some suitable sterile paste 5acontain ing a mildy abrasive agent, such as finely powdered pumice stone.-

In the use of this instrument by the laiety,

it would only be" necessary for the user to grasp the stick, dampen the bored end with water, and apply to the tooth or teeth forv the removal "of stains or gelatinous plaques. During such use, the scallop enables the bristle-likefibres atthat end to fit somewhat the contour of the tooth, and at the same time, the longer part at the sides of thescallop may extend during use, into the inter-dental spaces. manipulating the instrument, one tooth at a time may be cleaned and polished.

As before stated, the device shown in Figs. 1 to 2 may also be supplied to the profession,

either with or without the charge of abrasive Obviously, by properly 5 at the end is in use, the fibres, while sufliciently stifi' to do their required work, will nevertheless i move towards or away from one another to conform to the surface of the tooth, andthis action, in Combination with the polishing ma- 7 terial, will act to'efi'ectively remove'the stains those skilled in the art, and it is apparent'that i that cannotbe readily reached with the rotary form. n 7 The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 and 4 is especially provided for the profession, and in this case, the stick,

or handle part 6 isof greatly reduced length, as'it is simply to be used as a projection to enter the rotary mandrel of the dental engine or the like.

p In the professional form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the instrument is quite short, and has a bell-shaped or'fiared bore 7,

but its outer surface iscylindricalform end to end. This is the simplest form of the invention. i

As each embodiment is made of suitable fibrous material, such as palm wood, it will be apparent that the flaring of the mouth at the end of the stick will weaken the fibres at this location, and consequently, when the device and bacterial plaques.

From-the foregoing it is believed that the V construction, operation and advantages of the invention may be readily understood by changes may be made in the details disclosed R end of the stick.

without departing from the spirit of. the. in vention, as expressed in the appended claims.

? iters Patent is f 1. An instrument of the character described, comprising a stick having a fibrous end of annular formatiomthe wall of the 4 anulu'sbeinggradually tapered toward the 2. An instrument of' the character described,'comprising a short stick provided with an integral relatively soft wood fibre end portion of annular form, and containing a central cavity provided with an outwardly flared mouth, the extremity of said mouth being grooved transversely. V y r 3. An instrument for cleaning and polishingthe teeth comprising a relatively short narrow stick having an integral hollowed end of fibrous materia In testimony whereof, I have-signedthiS specification.

' NORRIS o. LEONARD.

"What I claim and desire to secure by Let- 

